Food in Venice: Top Tips from a Historian and Sommelier

Learn how to live like a local, discovering the famed bacaro, ombra, and cicchetto of Venice

(4.74)

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US$27

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Duration: 50 minutes
Product Type: Lecture

Lecture Details

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Presented by the same world-class experts as our walking tours, Context Lectures highlight must-see attractions, reveal hidden landmarks, and explore the best things to do during your trip so you don’t miss a thing.

Lecture Description

When traveling through Venice, it’s easy to get swept up in the crowds of Piazza San Marco, but be sure to leave time to wander off the beaten path. The smaller waterways and neighborhoods of Venice are a treasure trove of bàcaris and local legends. In a city where people usually walk everywhere, it is very easy and common to find a friend on the way home after work and spontaneously say “Andiamo a bere un’ombra!” (Let’s go drink in the shade).

Meet Your Expert

Cecilia

Cecilia is a qualified FISAR Sommelier and a licensed tour leader. She is a native of Venice whose great-grandparents owned one of the most prestigious bars in St Mark’s Square. She is a food enthusiast and passionate about wine. Cecilia studied organic wine in France, receiving a Master's degree in 2012, and worked in the most famous enoteca of Venice for almost three years. She shares her knowledge about food, wine and Venetian culture to help visitors enjoy the city from a different perspective, through a connection of flavors, aromas and stories. Fluent in the Venetian dialect, Cecilia will introduce you to the local farmer at the Rialto Market and show you how to choose fresh fish from her favorite fishmonger. She is proud to be part of the Context team, promoting responsible tourism in one the most beautiful -and definitely the most delicate- cities in the world.

Typically an "ombra" is a glass of the house wine, served standing in a "bàcaro" in a very cozy atmosphere, and paired with colorful appetizers called "cicchetti." But what is the origin of this habit? Already by the 1300s, there were more than 20 bàcari in the area immediately surrounding the Rialto Bridge. With such a long history, it comes as no surprise that the etymology of the words "bàcari" and "cicchetti" have conflicting origins.

After making a distinction between “osteria,” “locanda,” and “restaurant” – we’ll deliver an introduction to the history of this authentic and common lifestyle. Having been a major crossroads in the importation of spices (and with a key role in the commerce of salt), Venice offers an especially unique array of cuisines to sample.

Led by a food expert and certified sommelier, Cecilia Sitran, this lecture will combine history, genuine traditions, and suggestions on how to experience the authentic Venetian food culture. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased interest in trying a must-have food and wine experience, shoulder to shoulder with locals.

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Yes! All of our lectures have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.

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Our recorded lectures typically run for 60 minutes.

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(4.74) – 27 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

This was my first Context Travel event. Well worth the money! I learned invaluable things that will make my upcoming trip so much more fun! Highly recommend.

Jean

Mar. 21, 2023

I was just in Venice last summer and hope to go back in the near future, and Cecilia's talk was so informative and interesting—particularly because seeking out and eating good cichetti at great bàcari help provide a much more intimate experience of Venice's neighborhoods beyond San Marco. Mouthwatering!

Trina

Nov. 4, 2022

Cecilia shared historical context prior to sharing information about best bacari and cicchetti in Venice. I learned so much from this live context webinar.

Marie

Aug. 7, 2022

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